Highly-regarded Cuban chorus to visit Cape Cod

How does a world-renowned Cuban a cappella choir find its way to Cape Cod in November?

Susan Blood

SOUNDS OF CUBA, AND BEYOND – Cuba’s Coro de Entrevoces will sing at two Cape venues Nov. 1 and 2.

Coro de Entrevoces has wide repertoire

How does a world-renowned Cuban a cappella choir find its way to Cape Cod in November? Through a world made smaller through cultural exchange, and a fortuitous connection.

“My organization is Educational Travel Alliance, licensed by the U.S. government to arrange cultural exchange programs between the USA and Cuba,” said Michael Eizenberg. ”In July there was a choral festival in Cuba called Corhabana Choral Festival, with choruses from all over Cuba, Venezuela and a number of other places. We arranged for a chorus from New Hampshire, Voices from the Heart, to go to Cuba and participate.”

Eisenberg then invited a select group from the Cuban National Chorus, called Coro de Entrevoces, to come to the Unites States. They've toured South America, Canada and Europe, where they recently won the 12th International Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf, Germany. Their repertoire includes works from the Spanish, English and Italian Renaissance as well as contemporary music, Negro spirituals and Cuban music.

When Eisenberg told his sister that Coro de Entrevoces would be hosted by the chorus in New Hampshire, she expressed an interest in having them come to the Cape. As luck would have it, Eisenberg's sister is Harwich Junior Theatre's Producing Artistic Director, Nina Schuessler.

“I was in Havana last May,” Schuessler said. “On our final day, Coro de Entrevoces gave a concert for our group. I had goose bumps the whole time. I couldn't get over it. They're so full of personality and joy. Their singing is beyond anything I've ever heard.”

Once it was confirmed that the chorus would come to Cape Cod, Schuessler extended the opportunity at the Cape Cod Theater Coalition, a collaborative organization of all the theaters on the Cape. “Jeffry George [executive director of Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater] was thrilled,” she said. “He said they'd love to host them as well.”

Coro de Entrevoces will perform at Harwich Junior Theatre on Nov. 1, and Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater Nov. 2. After all, if the United States and Cuba can have successful cultural exchanges, why shouldn't our theaters?

“I'm hoping that we fill the house and that Spanish-speaking people come to the concert,” Schuessler said. “It's a friendship-exchange and we're really hoping it will be a thrilling evening. People-to-people contact is what changes the world, more than anything else.”

Digna Guerra Ramírez is the founder of Coro de Entrevoces, leading it to many successes since its formation in 1981. She is professor at the Instituto Superior de Arte in Cuba, president of the Cuban Choral Association and of the international festival, America Cantat. She has worked with her own ensembles since 1962; in 1965 she took over as conductor of the Radio Choir; since 1969 she has conducted the choir of the Cuban Opera, with which she has performed many operas. Since 1975, she has also conducted the Cuban National Choir.

“When I went to Cuba, I couldn't get over the virtuosity of the music, dance, visual arts and theater,” Schuessler recalled. “They put so much into their art. It makes you realize what your priorities should be. There wasn't a sense of materialism - it was more about experience and music and dancing and painting and sculpture.”

Coro de Entrevoces will be in Massachusetts and New Hampshire for a week, followed by a week in Florida. If you miss them, you may have to contact Eisenberg and see Coro de Entrevoces in Cuba.